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I recently took an online class on how to write a hook. In the publishing industry, a hook is a pitch, elevator speech or description of your book. The class was offered by Wordsmith Academy and taught by Mark Gottlieb, an agent with Trident Media Group.

One takeaway from the class: Be concise and interesting.

According to Gottlieb, “that is really the kind of person who an agent or editor wants to be in business with.” Which makes sense. Who doesn’t like concise, interesting people? Our worst nightmare is that friend who tells long, boring stories that come to no end. Don’t be that person. Be a person Mark likes. You’ll write better hooks and be a better friend.